Final turbine is installed at Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm24th Sep 2019

Another milestone has been reached at the Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm in Denbighshire with the installation of all 27 turbines.

Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK started work as principal contractor in March 2018 following the award of a £20m contract, from innogy Renewables UK. The site, which will be innogy Renewables UK’s largest onshore wind farm, has already achieved first generation. Once fully operational, it will be capable of generating enough renewable energy for the equivalent domestic needs of up to 63,800 average UK households annually.

Regarded as one of the UK’s leading wind farm contractors, Jones Bros’ headquarters and training centre is located just 10 miles away in Ruthin. Many of the workers at the site come from the local area. 

The contractor is nearing completion of the infrastructure for the 96MW wind farm, which is located within the working forest, managed by Natural Resources Wales.

It has constructed 8km of new access tracks, upgraded 20km of existing tracks, built crane hard standings, completed the installation of cabling to connect the turbines to the electricity grid and has completed the 33kV/132kV substation.

Reinstatement works are now being completed.

During the course of the project, the family-owned firm has been able to provide 15 apprentices and trainees with experience of a major renewables scheme, helping them develop their skills for the future.

Jones Bros project manager Rhys Roberts said: “It’s always good to see another of our schemes come to fruition. 

“From a personnel point of view, it’s been a popular site to work on, as many of our employees and subcontractors live close to Clocaenog. 

“The team is now finishing off the reinstatement works, which are due for completion soon, following which we’ll hand the site back to innogy.”

Andy Clayton, Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm project manager said: “This latest milestone is a momentous achievement by the team.

“They’ve worked tirelessly, often not helped by challenging weather conditions.

“Having achieved first generation in July, our next target is to commission the remaining turbines, and have the wind farm fully operational later this year.”

Once fully operational the associated community fund, worth £19m over the operating lifetime, will become available to applicants.

Currently the process to put in place an independent organisation to administer the fund is ongoing, with an announcement set to be made later this Autumn.

Jones Bros’ community work has including setting up visits from Ysgol Betws Gwerfil Goch, Ysgol Bro Elwern, Ysgol Carreg Emlyn, Ysgol Gellifor and Myddelton College.